April 24—­Report of the American Red Cross, covering the period from Sept. 12 to April 17, shows that supplies valued at over $1,000,000 have been sent to France, which got the largest individual share of the shipments, and to Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and the Belgians; the supplies have included 600,000 pounds of absorbent cotton; surgical gauze that if stretched in a single line would reach from the Battery, New York, to Niagara Falls; 32,600 pounds of chloroform and ether; 65,000 yards of bandages, and 1,123 cases of surgical instruments.

April 26—­A new British committee, with many well-known Englishmen on it, has been organized for Belgian relief, King George heading the subscription list.

April 27—­American Red Cross ships a large consignment of supplies to the Russian Red Cross at Petrograd.

The Drink Question

[From Truth, April 7, 1915.]

    Sir Topas Port, in angry sort,
      A scowl upon his forehead,
    Relieved his chest, of wrath possessed,
      In words distinctly torrid;
    His brows were raised, his eyes they blazed,
      His nose inclined to florid.

    “Disgraceful state!  That we must wait
      For guns and ammunition,
    Because—­Great Scott!—­men play the sot
      And ruin their condition. 
    Low, drunken swine!  If power were mine,
      I’d teach ’em their position!

    “I’d close the pubs and workmen’s clubs—­
      What says that Welshman feller? 
    All drink tabooed?  Alike preclude
      Mile-Ender and Pall-Maller? 
    Good-bye!  Can’t stay.  I must away
      Post haste to stock my cellar.”